AgDay Daily Recap - April 18, 2018

HEADLINES
CHINA IMPOSES DUTIES ON U.S. SORGHUM. THE I-80 PLANTING TOUR CONTINUES. "I'M BETSY JIBBEN. IT'S A SLOW START HERE IN NORTHWEST OHIO. WE'LL UPDATE YOU ON CONDITIONS LATER DURING OUR I-80 PLANTING TOUR."IN AGRIBUSINESS...ANALYSIS FROM THE FLOOR.AND INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF FORESTS FOR TENESSEE.AGDAY-BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE CHEVY SILVERADO, THE MOST DEPENDABLE, LONGEST-LASTING FULL SIZE PICKUPS ON THE ROAD.

SORGHUM DUTIES
GOOD MORNING I'M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. THE NATIONAL SORGHUM PRODUCERS TRADE GROUP IS EXPRESSING DISAPPOINTMENT THIS MORNING AFTER THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IMPOSED WHAT AMOUNTS TO A TARIFF ON U-S SORGHUM SHIPPED INTO THAT ASIAN NATION.A PRELIMINARY RULING BY CHINA'S COMMERCE MINISTRY SAYS U-S SORGHUM WAS BEING SOLD AT IMPROPERLY LOW PRICES, HURTING CHINESE FARMERS. SOMETHING THE NATIONAL SORGHUM PRODUCES IS DENYING.CHINA ORDERING IMPORTERS OF U-S SORGHUM TO POST BONDS OF NEARLY 179-PERCENT (178.6) PERCENT OF THE VALUE OF THEIR GOODS TO COVER POSSIBLE ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES WHILE THE PROBE IS COMPLETED. CHINA IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST FOREIGN MARKETS FOR U.S. SORGHUM GROWERS.N-S-P SAYING IT HAS COOPERATED FULLY WITH CHINA'S INVESTIGATIONS, INCLUDING SUBMITTING SEVERAL THOUSAND PAGES OF DATA SHOWING THAT U.S. SORGHUM IS NEITHER DUMPED NOR CAUSING ANY INJURY TO CHINA. BUT - QUOTING NOW -'NONE OF THIS INFORMATION APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED OR USED IN THE PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION, WHICH IS NEITHER FAIR NOR APPROPRIATE.""WE'VE HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP BY OUR CHINESE BUYERS, THIS CASE WAS NOT INITIATED BY OUR CUSTOMERS. CERTAINLY, WE WANT A FAIR RECORD AND A FAIR CASE TO MOVE FORWARD."CHINA L AUNCHED THE INVESTIGATION IN FEBRUARY IN WHAT SOME PEOPLE SAW AS A WARNING SHOT AFTER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HIKED TARIFFS ON CHINESE-MADE WASHING MACHINES AND SOLAR MODULES.SINCE THEN, TRUMP HAS THREATENED TO RAISE DUTIES ON UP TO $150 BILLION OF CHINESE GOODS IN A DISPUTE OVER TECHNOLOGY POLICY. BEIJING HAS RESPONDED WITH ITS OWN LIST OF U.S. GOODS FOR POSSIBLE RETALIATION. SORGHUM IS USED FOR ANIMAL FEED IN CHINA'S GROWING PROTEIN SECTOR.SORGHUM FARMERS LIKE JUSTIN KNOPF SAY IT'S TENSION AND TALK AROUND TRADE IMPACTIN PRICES ON THEIR FARM. THE FARM BILL IS IMPORTANT, TO ME, CROP INSURANCE IS IMPORTANT TO ME, BUT WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS I HAVE A PRODUCT FOR MY PRODUCTSKEEP IN MIND THE REAL IMPACT THAT RHETORIC HAS I KNOW HE KEEPS SAYING HE'S GOING TO GET A GOOD DEAL, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THERE'S A LOT OF HEARTBURN HAPPENING ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE PROFITABLE WHEN OUR COMMODITIES ARE DROPPING 10 TO 20 PERCENT OVER WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND TRADEKNOPF SAYS SORGHUM PRICES DROPPED 20 PERCENT IN A MATTER OF DAYS AFTER CHINA INITIALLY LAUNCHED THE COUNTERVAILING AND ANTIDUMPING DUTIES INVESTIGATION INTO U-S SORGHUM.

IMF WARNS TRADE TENSIONS COULD UNDERMINE GLOBAL ECONOMY
THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND ISSUING A WARNING THAT RISING TRADE TENSIONS BETWEEN THE U-S AND CHINA COULD UNDERMINE A GLOBAL ECONOMY THAT THE IMF BELIEVES SHOULD OTHERWISE GROW SOLIDLY THIS YEAR.THE LENDING AGENCY KEPT ITS FORECAST FOR WORLDWIDE GROWTH THIS YEAR AT 3.9 PERCENT, WHICH WOULD BE ITS FASTEST PACE SINCE 2011. BUT THE IMF SAYS THE BRIGHT OUTLOOK COULD BE DERAILED BY A MAJOR TRADE CONFLICT.PERCENT THIS YEAR, UP FROM THE 2.7 PERCENT IT HAD FORECAST IN JANUARY.THE IMF SAYS THE STRONG GROWTH IS FUELED BY THE PRESIDENT'S TAX CUTS.

OKLAHOMA WILDFIRES
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS HIGH TEMPERATURES, LOW HUMIDITY AND HEAVY WINDS HAVE OKLAHOMA'S WILDFIRE THREAT AT ITS HIGHEST POINT IN A DECADE. FIRES HAVE BURNED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES AND KILLED AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE. WILDFIRES HAVE KILLED TWO PEOPLE IN WESTERN OKLAHOMA OVER THE PAST WEEK.WEATHER OFFICIALS SAY TUESDAY'S CONDITIONS REPRESENT THE MOST POTENTIAL FOR THE SPREAD OF WILDFIRES IN THE PAST 10 YEARS. THEY USE A DATABASE TO CONSIDERS A VARIETY OF FACTORS. TEMPERATURES WERE PROJECTED TO REACH THE MID-90SWITH HUMIDITY BELOW 10 PERCENT AND WINDS GUSTING TO 40 MPH. MORE THAN 400-THOUSAND ACRES HAVE BURNED SO FAR.OFFICIALS SAY HUNDREDS OF MILES OF FENCING HAS BEEN DESTROYED AND NUMEROUS CATTLE, LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE HAS BEEN KILLED OR HOPELESSLY MAIMED DURING THE FIRES.AND THE THREAT ISN'T OVER.MIKE KARLIN, WEATHERFORD, OKLAHOMA FIRE CHIEF"WITH THE WIND CHANGES, LOWER HUMIDITY HAS INCREASED WIND SPEEDS, HIGHER TEMPERATURES AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOME THINGS SECURED."THE WEATHER SERVICE SAYS RAIN AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL INCREASE THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY WITH STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE IN SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS ON FRIDAY.

I-80 PLANTING TOUR
THIS WEEK'S I-80 PLANTING TOUR STOP IS NORTHWEST OHIO WHERE COLD TEMPERATURES AND SNOW ARE KEEPING FARMERS OUT OF THE FIELD. SOME FARMERS REPORTED TWO INCHES OF SNOW OVER THE WEEKEND.THE WEEKLY CROP PROGRESS REPORT SHOWS NO CORN PLANTED IN THE STATE WHICH IS A COMMON THREAD ACROSS I-80.THIS RECENT SNAP OF COOL DAMP WEATHER IS PLAYING LIKE A BROKEN RECORD. BETSY JIBBEN TAKES A TRIP TO NORTHWEST OHIO TO CHECK OUT CONDITIONS. "CLINTON, LIKE MUCH OF THE CORN BELT, IT'S SLOW MOVING HERE IN A CHILLY NORTHWEST OHIO AS FARMERS SAY SPRING HAS YET TO ARRIVE."ERIC KLEIN KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT FARMING -"I USED TO WEAR THE KNEES OUT OF MY PANTS PUSHING THE TOY JOHN DEERE'S ON THE CARPET. I WAS WORKING GROUND WHEN EVERYONE ELSE WAS PLAYING LITTLE LEAGUE."THE ONE-MAN SHOW.... "MY SPRAYER IS A '94 AND IT WAS A CUSTOM APPLICATOR SPRAYER BEFORE I BOUGHT IT SO IT'S GOT A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR ON IT. I GOTTA BACK UP PLAN. LAUGHS"NOW ENTERING HIS 40TH YEAR OF FARMINGA BIG MILESTONE DURING MINIMAL START TO 2018. :HAVE YOU DONE ANY FIELD WORK OR SPRAYING THIS YEAR? I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING."DOWN THE ROAD IS NATE LIKE."I'VE BEEN FARMING FOR - LAUGHS- 15 OR 20 YEARS,"ANOTHER FARMER FACING THE SAME DILEMINIA…"THIS YEAR HAS JUST BEEN COLD. THIS IS JUST THE COLDEST I'VE SEEN IT IN A LONG TIME,"FARMERS SAY WHILE 2018 HAS BEEN COOL, THE MEMORY OF LAST YEAR STINGS-IT STARTED WITH A DOWNPOUR OF RAIN ON EARLY PLANTED CROPS."LAST YEAR WE PLANTED CORN EARLY, I'M OUT THERE PLANTING CORN. IT'S COLD, IT'S WET AND THEY'RE CALLING FOR A BIG COLD RAIN TO COME IN FOR A THREE DAY EVENT. I LITERALLY SHUT OFF THE TRACTOR RIGHT WHERE IT WAS,""A LOT OF GUYS ARE NERVOUS FROM LAST YEAR. WE LIKE TO PLANT OUR CROP AND HAVE IT COME UP ONCE,"I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY REPLANT CLAIMS WE HAD LAST YEAR BUT IT WAS PROBABLY OUR BIGGEST YEAR EVER FOR REPLANT CLAIMS 53 AND PREVENT PLANT CLAIMS, NOT AS MANY LAST YEAR AS WE'VE HAD IN FEW OF THE PREVIOUS YEARS "CROP INSURANCE HELPED A LOT TO MITIGATE THE LOWER YIELDS AND LOWER COMMODITY PRICES, YES,""ALL THE CORN I PLANTED AFTER THAT WAS BETTER. THE OTHER CORN STRUGGLED. STAND WASN'T GOOD."LIKE DOESN'T MIND PLANTING A LITTLER AFTER HIS STRING OF STRUGGLING GROWING SEASONS."TWO YEARS AGO OR THREE IF MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECT, A LOT OF GUYS DIDN'T GET CORN PLANTED UNTIL JUNE. THAT WAS THE BEST CORN ANYBODY COULD PLANT."AND EVEN THE 'VETERANS' LIKE KLEIN ARE READY TO WAIT IT OUT... "IT'S GETTING SO EXPENSIVE TO DO THIS. YOU WANT TO DO THIS RIGHT ONCE."BECAUSE EXPERIENCE TELLS HIM THERE'S STILL A LOT OF GROWING SEASON LEFT. "I'VE HAD 40 YEARS UNDER MY BELT AND I'VE NEVER HAD A COMPLETE DISASTER," "BUT I DON'T SIT ON A MOUNTAIN OF DEBT SO I THINK WELL, WE'LL DO IT SOMEHOW, YOU KNOW,"REPORTING FOR AGDAY, I'M BETSY JIBBEN. THANKS BETSY. KLEIN IS LEANING HEAVY ON SOYBEAN ACRES THIS YEAR. LIKE IS PLANTING MORE CORN DUE TO HIS LIVESTOCK. HOWEVER, LIKE SELLS SEED AND SAYS HIS CUSTOMERS IN NORTHWEST OHIO ARE PLANTING MORE SOYBEANS. OHIO ISN'T THE ONLY STATE OFF TO A SLOW START.

CROP COMMENTS
MIKE HOFFMAN EXPLAINS IN TODAY'S CROP COMMENTS.GOOD MORNING CLINTON.WE GOT THIS PHOTO FROM JOHN PIOSKEIN SIBLEY COUNTY MINNESOTA.THAT'S IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE.HE'S OUT CHECKING SOIL TEMPERATURES ON A SNOWMOBILE. HE'S JOKING OF COURSE.THE LATEST CROP PROGRESS FROM USDA SAYS THERE WERE NO DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELD WORK OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS.THERE HAS BEEN NO CORN PLANTED YET--THE FIVE YEAR AVERAGE IS 3 PERCENT.SUGAR BEETS ARE USUALLY 18 PERCENT COMPLETE. FIELDS REMAIN AT ZERO...THE SAME IS TRUE FOR OATS, BARELY AND SPRING WHEAT. HERE ARE SOME HOMETOWN TEMPS.

TEASE
WHEN WE COME BACK, PERSPECTIVE ON MARKET ACTIVITY FROM THE FLOOR OF THE CME IN CHICAGO.AND LATER, INVESTING THE FUTURE FORESTS OF TENNESSEE. WE'LL SEE HOW THESE RESEARCHERS ARE WORKING TO RESTORE TREES IN THE VOLUNTEER STATE.

FLOOR OF THE CME
IN AGRIBUSINESS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE ANALYSTS SPENT TUESDAY ON THE TRADING FLOOR AT THE CME. JOE VACLAVIKSHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON MARKETS AND POTENTIAL DIRECTION IN TODAY'S ANALYSIS. THE WHEAT MARKET TRADED BOTH SIDES OF UNCHANGED HERE ON TUESDAY. USDA GAVE US A FRESH SET OF WEEKLY CROP RATINGS ON MONDAY AFTERNOON AND IT WAS KIND OF A MIXED BAG. WE DID IMPROVE SLIGHTLY IN THE GOOD TO EXCELLENT CATEGORY BUT ALSO SAW A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF THE WHEAT CROP THE WINTER WHEAT CROP RATED PORTER VERY POOR. SO KIND OF SOME MIXED SIGNALS FROM USDA. NOW THE BIGGEST THING SURROUNDING ACTION IN THE WHEAT MARKET THIS WEEK IS PROBABLY THE WEATHER FORECAST. WE HAVE A FORECAST FOR A VERY SIGNIFICANT RAIN SYSTEM TO PASS THROUGH THE DRIEST AREAS OF THE SOUTHERN PLAINS THIS WEEKEND FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY THE DRIEST AREAS OF TEXAS KANSAS OKLAHOMA SHOULD SEE VERY WIDESPREAD COVERAGE ANYWHERE FROM AN INCH UP TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN AND A LOT OF THESE AREAS. SOME OF THESE AREAS HAVEN'T SEEN RAIN IN MONTHS. SO THIS COULD VERY WELL BE A DROUGHT BUSTING EVENT AND HAS HAD A PARTICULARLY BAD IMPACT ON THE KANSAS CITY WHEAT MARKET WHICH HAS BEEN UNDER QUITE A BIT OF PRESSURE HERE. ONE THING THAT SHOULD BE NOTED WHEN WE HAVE HAD THESE RALLIES IN THE WHEAT ON WEATHER CONCERNS SEEMS LIKE EXPORTS REALLY START TO FALL OFF VERY QUICKLY AND THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE U.S. WHEAT MARKET WE JUST HAVE A VERY VERY TOUGH TIME COMPETING ON THE WORLD MARKET AND THAT'S BEEN THE CASE HERE WITH THIS RECENT RALLY THAT WE'VE SEEN. YOU KNOW AS THE MARKET GOES HIGHER WE JUST SEEM TO LOSE EXPORT DEMAND VERY VERY QUICKLY. SO THAT'S ANOTHER FACTOR THAT MAY CONTINUE TO CAP RALLIES HERE. THE LIVE CATTLE MARKET WAS MOSTLY HIGHER HERE MIXED HIGHER TRADE ON TUESDAY. YOU KNOW WE HAD A VERY STRONG CASH CATTLE TRADE LATE LAST WEEK. WE TRADED CASH AFTER THE FUTURES CLOSED ON FRIDAY AS HIGH AS 122. AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN UP FROM 117 TO 118 THE PREVIOUS WEEK. SO WE DID FIND THE FUTURES MARKET OPENING SHARPLY HIGHER ON MONDAY KIND OF A POOR CLOSE ON MONDAY BUT WE FOUND SOME STRENGTH HERE AGAIN ON TUESDAY. NOW THE RALLY ATTEMPTS HAVE IF YOU WANT TO CALL THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SUSTAIN AS WELL AS THE BULLS WOULD LIKE. WE'D LIKE TO SEE SOME FOLLOW THROUGH BUYING AMID THIS BETTER CASH TRADE. BUT FOR THE MOMENT HERE THE MARKET MAYBE NOT PERFORMING AS WELL AS SOME PEOPLE WOULD HAVE LIKED. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT MANAGED MONEY HAS BEEN NET SELLERS OF LIVE CATTLE FUTURES FOR SEVEN CONSECUTIVE WEEKS. NOW WE'VE SEEN THAT SELLING IN THAT MARKET. SO MAYBE THIS WILL BE THE WEEK THAT FINALLY BREAKS THE STREAK HERE. BUT IN GENERAL THE TREND HAS BEEN THAT MANAGED MONEY HAS BEEN PUSHING THIS MARKET LOWER WITH LIQUIDATING LONG POSITIONS AGAIN JOE VACLAVIK FROM THE FLOOR OF THE CME GROUP IN CHICAGO

WEATHER
WELCOME BACK TO AGDAY HERE WITH. METEOROLOGIST MIKE HOFFMAN MIK LOOKING AT THE RESUME MOISTURE MAP YOU CAN SEE THERE. THERE'S KIND OF A HAVE AND HAVE NOTS HERE LOTS OF WET AREAS BUT LOTS OF DRY AREAS TOO. UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS OUT MANY TIMES. BUT YOU CAN SEE ALL THE WET AREAS THAT HAVEDEVELOPED IN THE EASTERN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND THAT ARE EXTENDS FROM THE GULF COAST ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE OHIO TENNESSEE VALLEYS INTO THE GREAT LAKES AND COURSE. COMBINE THAT WITH THE CHILLY TEMPERATURES ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THIS AREA. THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON. DRY CONDITIONS FROM MISSOURI BACK INTO WEST TEXAS OF COURSE THE DROUGHT IS REALLY GETTING BAD IN THAT PART OF TEXAS AS WELL BACK INTO THE FOUR CORNERS REGION. ALSO FAIRLY WET CONDITIONS DESPITE LONG TERM DROUGHT. WE'RE SEEING WET CONDITIONS IN THE ROOT ZONE. WESTERN DAKOTAS BUT ESPECIALLY ON INTO MONTANA THROUGH THE NORTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTRY. HERE'S THE MAP THIS MORNING WE HAVE ONE MAIN STORM SYSTEM NOT NEARLY AS STRONG AS THE ONE THAT'S EXITIN NEW ENGLAND BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE MOVING OFF TO THE EAST BRINGING SOME RAIN AND SOME SNOW ON THE NORTHWEST PART OF IT ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE THAT AIR IS STILL PRETTY COLD. NEXT STORM SYSTEM ISN'T THAT STRONG IT'S GOING TO DIVE PRETTY FAR SOUTH AS WELL AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A SLOW MOVER. YOU CAN SEE THAT AS WE HEAD THROUGH TONIGHT WE'LL START TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN EVEN INTO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH SNOW FARTHER INLAND IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. THE EASTERN SYSTEM THEN RAIN AND SNOW ONCE AGAIN IT WILL BE MAINLY SNOW THROUGH THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES BY TOMORROW MORNING AND THEN HEADING THROUGH THE DAY TOMORROW. THAT STORM QUICKLY SHIFTS OFFSHORE BUT THERE IS STILL SOME LINGERING RAIN AND SNOW BACK TO THE WEST OF IT. A LITTLE BIT OF MOISTURE COMING UP ACROSS MEXICO INTO NEW MEXICO AS WE HEAD THROUGH TOMORROW AFTERNOON OUT AHEAD OFTHAT NEXT SYSTEM. THIS ACTUALLY HAS POTENTIAL TO GIVE SOME OF THOSE DROUGHT AREAS SOME MOISTURE. SO WE'RE KIND OF HOPEFUL FOR THAT AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE REST OF THIS WEEK BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE A SLOW MOVER PRECIPITATION ESTIMATE PAST 24 HOURS LIGHT AMOUNTS. NORTHERN PLAINS NORTHWEST AND THE NORTHEAST ADDING IN THE NEXT 36 HOURS WE'LL SEE STILL FAIRLY LIGHT AMOUNTS SOME AREAS MIGHT GET A HALF INCH OF MOISTURE EITHER RAIN OR MELTED SNOW FROM IOWA THROUGH THE SOUTHEASTERN PORTIONS OF THE GREAT LAKES SNOWFALL ESTIMATES THEN YOU CAN SEE THAT MOVES ACROSS IOWA INTO SOUTHERN WISCONSIN AND PARTS OF THE GREAT LAKES REGION OVER THE NEXT 36 HOURS. THE WARMTH IS GOING TO BE GOING AWAY STILL PRETTY WARM IN THE SOUTHEAST BUT CHILLIER FARTHER TO THE NORTH. YOU CAN SEE TONIGHT THOUGH THAT COLD AIR PUSHES SOUTHWARD. SO IT'S PRETTY CHILLY EVEN IN THE NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA. HIGH TEMPERATURES TOMORROW AFTERNOON. BOY THE 70S AND 80S HAVE BEEN SHOVED WAY TO THE SOUTH AS YOU CAN SEE THERE JETSTREAM NOT SHOWING ANY ARCTIC AIR MIXED IN ANYMORE BUT WE ARE SEEING THE SLOW MOVING CUTOFF SYSTEMS THAT CAN PRODUCE SOME DECENT MOISTURE IN PLACES BUT ALSO KEEPS THE ARCTIC AIR KIND OF BOTTLED UP STILL CHILLY THOUGH IN A LOT OF PLACES. THAT'S A LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME LOCAL FORECASTS. AMARILLO TEXAS BREEZY AND MILD WITH SUNSHINE HIGH OF 70 DEGREES VINCENNES IND. MOSTLY CLOUDY WINDY AND RATHER WARM HIGH OF 68 AND FINALLY WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA A MIXTURE OF SUNSHINE AND CLOUDS AFTERNOON HIGH AROUND 75​

TEASE
WHEN WE COME BACK WE'LL LOOK AT A NEW LETTUCE WARNING FROM THE CDC ON THE PACKER TV.AND LATER, CHARLES DENNEY. "I'M CHARLES DENNEY. THE U-T INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE TEAMS WITH THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY TO RESTORE A FOREST ON THIS LAND. WE'RE PLANTING RED OAKS NEXT ON AGDAY."

PACKER TV
IN NEWS FROM THE PACKER....THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL HAS LINKED 35 ILLNESSES IN 11 STATES TO AN E-COLI OUTBREAK STEMMING FROM ROMAINE LETTUCE. AND THE AGENCY MAY ADD TWO MORE STATES AFTER LABORATORY TESTING IS COMPLETED. THE C-D-C'S INVESTIGATION POINTS BACK TO BAGGED, CHOPPED SALAD FROM ARIZONA.THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT NAMED A SPECIFIC COMPANY. AND AT THIS POINT, THERE'S NO OFFICIAL RECALL.STILL, SOME RETAILERS HAVE REMOVED BAGGED ROMAINE FROM THEIR SHELVES.MEANWHILE IT LOOKS LIKE DOMESTIC MELON SEASON IS GETTING CLOSE.THE PACKER REPORTING THAT GROWERS EXPECT PRODUCTION TO START BY MID-MAY.SOME CALIFORNIA MELONS WILL BE SHIPPING MAY FIRST...A FEW DAYS BEHIND SCHEDULE BECAUSE OF COOLER WEATHER THIS SEASON.MEANWHILE IN THE SOUTHEAST, WATERMELON PRODUCTION OUT OF FLORIDA IS ALSO LIKELY TO BEGIN IN MID-MAY.A WARM FEBRUARY AND COLD MARCH HAS MADE FOR AN INTERESTING START TO THE YEAR. MEANWHILE ONE OF THE HOTTEST TRENDS IN THE MELON INDUSTRY IS THE FRESH CUT MARKET.PACKERS SAY CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO DEMAND HIGHLY FLAVORFUL FRUIT...WITH A PRIORITY ON TASTE.MARKETERS REPORTING TO THE PACKER THAT TASTIER FRUIT CAN PROMPT HIGHER SALES AND REPEAT CUSTOMERS.A REPRESENTATIVE FROM DEL MONTE SAYING THAT MELON VARIETIES SUITED FOR FRESH-CUT ARE HELPING INCREASE THE OVERALL PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION OF MELONS.

TEASE
WHEN COME BACK, RESTORING FORESTS IN TENNESSEE

IN THE COUNTRY
DID YOU KNOW IT ONLY TAKES A TENNESSEE LANDSCAPE ONE GENERATION TO GO FROM GRASSLAND TO A THICK FOREST?AND THAT'S THE HOPE OF NEW PROJECT BY UT'S INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE AND THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY.THEY'RE WORKING TO RESTORE OAK TREES NEAR A TVA DAM.CHARLES DENNEY HAS MORE ON THE HISTORY –AND FUTURE – OF AN EFFORT TO PLANT FUTURE FORESTS.A HILLSIDE GETS A NEW BEGINNING.THE BIRTH OF A FOREST ALMOST FROM SCRATCH.THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY HAS A LONG PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UT INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE, AND NOW ANOTHER AMBITIOUS PROJECT.FORESTERS AND STUDENTS ARE PLANTING 700 RED OAKS ON TVA'S NORRIS DAM RESERVATION IN ANDERSON COUNTY.THE TREES WILL BE PROTECTED BY CAGES A FEW YEARS TO KEEP HUNGRY DEER AWAY."NORTHERN RED OAK IS WHAT WE CALL A FINE HARDWOOD SPECIES, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE HARDWOOD SPECIES, RELATIVELY FAST GROWING OAK, GOOD FOR TIMBER, OF COURSE GOOD FOR WILDLIFE TOO."SCOTT SCHLARBAUM LEADS UTIA'S TREE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.HERE BACK ON THE KNOXVILLE AG CAMPUS, THE PLANTING CREW SORTS THE TREES. EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH FOR THIS CROP OF RED OAKS."THIS ORCHARD WILL PRODUCE ACORNS THAT WILL HAVE ANOTHER INCREMENT OF GENETIC IMPROVEMENT AND THEN WILL BE USED EVENTUALLY FOR MASS REFORESTATION IN THE TENNESSEE RIVER VALLEY AND ALSO EASTERN TENNESSEE AND OTHER ASSOCIATED AREAS.""THIS SITE HAS BEEN TREELESS A WHILE, BUT IT HAS HISTORY. THIS AREA WAS USED TO FIRST GROW HARDWOODS, AND THEN LOBLOLLY PINES UP UNTIL 15 YEARS AGO. NOW EXPERTS BELIEVE THE RED OAKS WILL THRIVE HERE."THE SEEDLINGS ARE ABOUT A YEAR OLD, AND COME FROM GOOD STOCK, DESCENDANTS OF A PAST ORCHARD.HERE'S FOOTAGE FROM 2011 OF TVA'S WORK WITH UTIA AT WAUTAGALAKE NEAR THE CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST IN CARTER COUNTY.THE TREES GOING IN THE GROUND AT NORRIS WERE FROM A COLLECTION OF SEEDS FROM THE WAUTAGA SITE, FIRST PLANTED NEARLY HALF A CENTURY AGO."SO IN A WAY, THESE SEEDLINGS ARE COMING BACK HOME TO TVA."TVA EXPERTS SAY THEIR ORGANIZATION HAS A MISSION TO REPLANT THE VALLEY, AND IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THE PUBLIC CAN ENJOY THIS FOREST."IT SHOULD BE. IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE QUITE PARK-LIKE ONCE THE TREES GET UP A LITTLE BIT, AND THE CANOPY KIND OF CLOSES IN AROUND THE AREA. IT WILL BE QUITE NICE FOR PROBABLY SOME HIKING AND PICNICKING AND THAT SORT OF THING."A LANDSCAPE CAN DRAMATICALLY CHANGE AND RE-APPEAR WITH THE RIGHT PLANNING.AND THIS FUTURE FOREST IS THE RESULT OF WORK DONE TODAY AND IN THE PAST.THIS IS CHARLES DENNEY REPORTING. THANKS CHARLES. HE SAYS, TVA WILL ALSO PLANT SUGAR MAPLES AND HEMLOCK TREES IN THE NORRIS DAM AREA IN COMING MONTHS.

CLOSE
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE THIS MORNING. WE'RE GLAD YOU TUNED IN. FOR ALL OF US AT AGDAY. I'M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. HAVE A GREAT DAY